**Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office Orders Arrest of Former Presidential Candidate Edmundo González Urrutia**
*By Carlos Álvarez Acevedo, September 2, 2024*
The Venezuelan General Prosecutor’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo González Urrutia, a former opposition presidential candidate from the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática party. This comes after González Urrutia failed to respond to three summonses to testify regarding a website where detailed presidential election results were published.
The website in question is under investigation for “usurping the function” of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela, which officially certified Nicolás Maduro Moros’ victory on August 22, 2024, after a formal review of the presidential election results held on July 28, 2024.
The Democratic Unitary Platform claimed to have published “83.5 percent of the electoral records,” collected by witnesses and polling station members on the night of the election, to back their fraud allegations.
Prosecutor Luis Ernesto Dueñez Reyes requested the arrest warrant against González Urrutia for “the alleged commission of the crimes of usurpation of functions, forgery of public documents, incitement to disobey laws, computer crimes, association to commit crimes, and conspiracy.”
González Urrutia, who recently turned 75, failed to respond to three notices from the Public Ministry within the last two weeks. The notices were published on social media by the General Prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, who accused the former candidate of “conspiracy” and “usurpation of functions.”
On September 1, 2024, González Urrutia released a video on his social media accounts stating that the Ministry intended to subject him to an interview without specifying the conditions and prequalifying alleged crimes not committed. According to him, the General Prosecutor has repeatedly acted as a political accuser, condemning prematurely and now pushing a citation without guarantees of independence and due process.
Since July 30, 2024, when he last appeared in public, González Urrutia has been in hiding and only communicated through social media. The National Electoral Council of Venezuela announced on July 29, 2024, that the incumbent President Nicolás Maduro Moros was reelected for a third six-year term with 51 percent of the votes against González Urrutia’s 44 percent. However, the opposition insisted they had copies of 84 percent of the records proving electoral fraud.
On July 31, 2024, Maduro called for the imprisonment of González Urrutia and María Corina Machado Parisca, National Coordinator of the Vente Venezuela party.
González Urrutia previously served as Venezuela’s ambassador to Algeria and Argentina during Carlos Andrés Pérez’s and Hugo Chávez Frías’s administrations. He was elected as the opposition’s candidate after the disqualification of María Corina Machado Parisca, the Vente Venezuela party’s national coordinator since 2012.
**Additional News Related to the Arrest of Edmundo González Urrutia**:
**Venezuelan Opposition Faces Increased Scrutiny as González Urrutia’s Arrest Warrant Issued**
In light of the arrest warrant against Edmundo González Urrutia, Venezuela’s political landscape remains turbulent. According to multiple news sources, the opposition continues to denounce electoral fraud and political persecution by the current administration. Political analysts suggest that this move might consolidate Maduro’s power further while stifling opposition voices ahead of potential new protests and international criticism.
**Maduro’s Government Denies Allegations of Political Persecution Following Arrest Warrant**
Maduro’s administration has publicly denied allegations of political persecution, asserting that the legal actions taken against González Urrutia and other opposition figures are based on credible evidence of criminal activities, not political motivations. The government maintains that it is safeguarding the integrity of Venezuela’s democratic process.
**International Community Reacts to Venezuela’s Political Crisis**
The international community has shown mixed reactions to the developments in Venezuela. While some countries and organizations have called for the immediate release of González Urrutia and a review of the electoral process, others have expressed concerns about meddling in Venezuela’s internal affairs. Major international organizations, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations, are monitoring the situation closely.
**Economic Implications Amid Political Unrest**
Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis not only impacts its social fabric but also has significant economic implications. The uncertainty and unrest are deterring foreign investment and exacerbating the already dire economic situation in the country. Economists warn that unless stability and transparent governance are restored, Venezuela will face prolonged economic hardship.
For further updates, keep following TJGringo.com as the situation unfolds in Venezuela.